William Frank Ashurst (12 April 1948 – 14 June 2022)[4] was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, and coached in the 1980s.
He grew up in Ince-in-Makerfield, living with his mother and three elder sisters, and attended Rose Bridge Secondary Modern School.
[3] Ashurst was first introduced to rugby league at the age of 10 when he watched the television broadcast of Wigan's 13-9 victory over Workington Town in the 1958 Challenge Cup Final during the 1957–58 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 10 May 1958.
This produced both more power and a higher level of accuracy, and by the late 1980s most native Australian goal kickers (save for Mal Meninga) switched over to this method.
[12] Ashurst returned to Wigan in 1977, but was sold to Wakefield Trinity for another record fee of £18,000 in March 1978,[6] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £136,200 in 2013).